Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-07-02
BLAIR EDUCATIONAL BILL.

1t is not good policy for the friends
of public education to allow interest
to abate in this important question
during the lnll of political affairs.
1t is especially not we'll to cease to
manifest an active, aggressive con.
Germ in behalf of the Blair Educa-
tional Bill. For that reason we
publish on the first page of the
VIRGINIAN. the position of the Re.
publican party as formally announ'
ced in National Convention ON the is
sue, as we'll as the recent action of the
Pennsylvania Legislature In refer
ence to it. We also give an ac-
curate history of the legislation in
Congress on the resolution prepared
by MIR. Blair himself, from which it
will DO seen that the bill was twice
passed by Republican Senate and
twice defeated or pigeon -holed By q
Democratic House. The Virginia
Democracy have been as recreant
on this subject as the Democratic
House of Representatives. By con.
vention and legislative resolve they
declared for it, but that was mere
blind. John w. Daniel in the
House, who had declared for the
Blair bill, as a member OF the Com.
mittee ON Labor favored the Grain
bill, which was designed, as Mr..
Blair states to kill the measure of
which he was the author, and sub
stitute for it bill which would
have proved practical nullity. 1t
provided, as we'll as We can now re-
call, for the distribution of the pro.
ceeds of the sale of the public lands
among the several States for educa-
tional purposes but made no dis
elimination on account of illiteracy.
1t did not, in its scope, meet the
emergency Of the times, nor in its
details furnish that aid and eneour.
agement which were contemplated
in the original measure. 1t was an
invention, with no recognized pur.
pose, except to kill the Blair bill. 1t
accomplished that object, and as a
consequence Virginia and the other
Southern States. were deprived of a
fund from the national treasury, to
assist in furnishing the children OF
school age the rudiments OF an edu-
cation.
1t is the duty of the Republicans
to press this vital question upon the
attention of the people--tO keep it
alive, until public sentiment is
created and crystalized that will
make it paramount issue in every
election. There can be no more i'm.
portant interests affecting the wei.
fare of the coming generation than
education and temperance. They
are questions which address them
selves to the people and must meet
with popular endorsement when
clearly presented. The Democratic
party is opposed to both. Intelli.
gence and sobriety are its natural
foes. With an enlightened public
understanding to discriminate be.
tween principles and policies and
their relation to and influence upon
the public welfare, the Democracy
would fall short Of public approval
at the ballot box in every State OF
the Union. With the rum shops
closed, and the influence of the
saloon abated, nursery Of Demo
cratic strength would be wanting.
The friends Of neither popular edu.
cation nor temperance can look to
the Democratic party for support.
They must draw their encourage
ment from and achieve their sue.
cess through the Republican party,
if they ever expect to incorporate
their views into law. And the Re.
publican party will have to recog-
nizc a daty that, in this respect,
confronts it. The timid aud time
serving may hesitate and tremble
at the proposition to become array.
ed against an influence which has
been so powerful in the country
heretofore. But brave and true
men, who believe that there is
something more than a name in the
party-that it has mission and
that sound laws cannot be enacted
or sound government instituted and
perpetuated except through an edn-
Gated and sober constituency, will
not shrink from the encounter.
There is a growing public sentiment
that cannot be arrested, or its
strength impaired by the hanlting
of crayens, and the near future will
amply demonstrate that neither the
educational nor temperance ques-
tion can be lodged or ignored By
the politicians Valley Virgiaian.
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The Isegfnnfng Of the End.
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